The COVID-19 pandemic-induced behavioral restrictions and their impact on child and adolescent psychiatric units-Infection control or freedom.

Aim: This study examines the impact of COVID-19 pandemic-induced behavioral restrictions on child psychiatric inpatients in Japan, particularly focusing on limitations placed on outings and overnight stays as infection-control measures.

Methods: Data were collected from inpatients from the children's mental health registry between January 2016 and December 2022. The clinical data, such as age, gender, diagnosis, result of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, frequency of outings and overnight stays before and after the pandemic, were compared.

Efficacy and safety of patiromer for non-dialysis and dialysis patients with hyperkalemia: the randomized, placebo-controlled and long-term study.

Background: The objectives of this phase two study are to investigate the efficacy of two starting doses of 8.4 g and 16.8 g and evaluate the long-term safety of patiromer in Japanese patients with hyperkalemia.

Effect of newly developed scissors-attached micro-forceps on the recipient clamp time and occurrence of anastomotic site infarction after bypass surgery for moyamoya disease.

Introduction: This study aimed to examine the effect of newly developed scissors-attached micro-forceps in superficial temporal artery-to-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) anastomosis for moyamoya disease (MMD).

Materials And Methods: Of 179 consecutive STA-MCA anastomoses on 95 hemispheres of 71 MMD patients at the University of Fukui Hospital between 2009 and 2023, 49 anastomoses on 26 hemispheres of 21 patients were enrolled in this retrospective cohort clinical trial intraoperative indocyanine green video-angiography did not demonstrate bypass patency in three anastomoses in two patients who were excluded. Twenty-one anastomosis in 19 hemispheres of 16 patients were performed using the conventional micro-forceps (conventional group, CG), and 25 anastomoses in 22 hemispheres of 19 patients were performed using scissors-attached micro-forceps (scissors group, SG).

Anatomy of the Frontal Sinus Drainage Pathway Evaluated in 247 Cadavers to Prevent Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage After Frontobasal Craniotomy.

Background And Objectives: The frontal sinus (FS) drainage pathway (FSDP) may be a conduit for cerebrospinal fluid leakage after frontobasal craniotomy. In this cadaveric study, we aimed to evaluate the anatomy of the FSDP.

Methods: The FSs and FSDPs of 247 cadavers were investigated.

Efficacy of azilsartan on left ventricular diastolic dysfunction compared with candesartan: J-TASTE randomized controlled trial.

Characterized by ventricular and vascular stiffness, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has led to high morbidity and mortality. As azilsartan is an angiotensin receptor blocker with the highest myocardial and vascular affinities, azilsartan may improve the left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in patients with hypertension and either HFpEF or HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) more than candesartan. In this randomized, open-label trial, we randomly assigned 193 hypertensive patients with HF and LV ejection fraction ≥ 45% to 20 mg of azilsartan (n = 95) or 8 mg of candesartan (n = 98), once daily for 48 weeks.

Prediction of Occurrence of Cerebral Infarction After Successful Mechanical Thrombectomy for Ischemic Stroke in the Anterior Circulation by Arterial Spin Labeling.

Purpose: The overall goal of our study is to create modified Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS) determined by the findings on arterial spin labeling imaging (ASL) to predict the prognosis of patients with acute ischemic stroke after successful mechanical thrombectomy (MT). Prior to that, we examined predictive factors including the value of cerebral blood flow (CBF) measured by ASL for occurrence of cerebral infarction at the region of interest (ROI) used in the ASPECTS after successful MT.

Methods: Of the 92 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with MT at our institution between April 2013 and April 2021, a total of 26 patients who arrived within 8 h after stroke onset and underwent MT resulting in a thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score of 2B or 3 were analyzed.

[Monitoring of the Floor of the 4th Ventricle for Brainstem Surgery].

The brainstem is densely aggregated with important cranial nerve nuclei and nerve tracts. Surgery in this area is, therefore, risky. Not only anatomical knowledge but also electrophysiological monitoring is essential for brainstem surgery.

Factors affecting reasonable duration of continuous electrocardiographic monitoring to detect atrial fibrillation in acute ischemic stroke.

Background: To examine the reasonable duration of continuous electrocardiographic monitoring (CEM) to detect AF at acute ischemic stroke.

Materials And Method: 811 consecutive patients admitted to Tsuruga Municipal Hospital by acute ischemic stroke between April 2013 and December 2021 were enrolled in this study. Excluding 78 patients, 733 patients were analyzed by cluster analysis with SurvCART algorithm, followed by Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Assessment of Arterial Transit Time and Cerebrovascular Reactivity in Moyamoya Disease by Simultaneous PET/MRI.

We investigated the relationship between MRI-arterial spin labeling (ASL) parameters and PET-cerebral blood flow (CBF)/cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) simultaneously obtained by PET/MRI in Moyamoya disease. Twelve patients underwent O-water PET/MRI with the acetazolamide (ACZ) challenge test. PET-CBF and PET-CVR were measured using O-water PET.

Visual Evoked Potential Can Predict Deterioration of Visual Function After Direct Clipping of Paraclinoid Aneurysm With Anterior Clinoidectomy.

Background: The role of visual evoked potential (VEP) in direct clipping of the paraclinoid internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysm remains uncertain.

Objective: To examine whether intraoperative neuromonitoring with VEP can predict deterioration of visual function after direct clipping of the paraclinoid ICA aneurysm with anterior clinoidectomy.

Methods: Among consecutive 274 patients with unruptured cerebral aneurysm, we enrolled 25 patients with paraclinoid ICA aneurysm treated by direct clipping after anterior clinoidectomy with intraoperative neuromonitoring with VEP in this study.

Prognosis of elderly non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients stratified by B-type natriuretic peptide: ELDERCARE-AF subanalysis.

Background: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a risk factor for stroke and cardiac death in patients with atrial fibrillation. We hypothesized the prognostic outcomes of very elderly non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients ineligible for standard anticoagulation treatment would vary according to BNP stratification.

Methods: In this subanalysis of the ELDERCARE-AF trial, patients were stratified by BNP levels at enrollment, and clinical outcomes compared among BNP subgroups.

The Utility of Arterial Transit Time Measurement for Evaluating the Hemodynamic Perfusion State of Patients with Chronic Cerebrovascular Stenosis or Occlusive Disease: Correlative Study between MR Imaging and O-labeled HO Positron Emission Tomography.

Purpose: To verify whether arterial transit time (ATT) mapping can correct arterial spin labeling-cerebral blood flow (ASL-CBF) values and to verify whether ATT is a parameter that correlates with positron emission tomography (PET)-oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) and PET-mean transit time (MTT).

Methods: Eleven patients with unilateral major cerebral artery stenosis or occlusion underwent MRI and PET in the chronic or asymptomatic phase. ASL-MRI acquisitions were conducted with each of two post-label delay (PLD) settings (0.

Functional Outcomes of Microsurgical Resection for Cavernous Malformations of the Brainstem.

Long-term functional outcomes of microsurgical resection for cavernous malformations of the brainstem (CMB) have been largely unknown. Favorable outcomes after CMB surgery might be related to the achievement of complete resection and mRS at 1 month after the surgery. Preoperative sensory, cerebellar, trigeminal nerve, and lower cranial nerve symptoms tended to improve after surgery.

Perovskite/CIGS Spectral Splitting Double Junction Solar Cell with 28% Power Conversion Efficiency.

The highest theoretical efficiency of double junction solar cells is predicted for architectures with the bottom cell bandgap ( ) of approximately 0.9-1.0 eV, which is lower than that of a typical Si cell (1.

Late peri-stent contrast staining appearance due to rupture of atherogenic neointima following drug-eluting stent.

The development of peri-stent contrast staining (PSS) after coronary intervention with implantation of a stent is observed in approximately 1-3% of patients treated with drug-eluting stent. Although the cumulative incidences of late in-stent restenosis and stent thrombosis are significantly higher in lesions with PSS than in those without the finding, the mechanisms for the development of PSS have not yet been fully elucidated. In this report, we describe a case of rapid development of PSS with ulcer formation caused by rupture of atherogenic neointima, which was observed by serial optical coherence tomography examinations over 6 months.

A Multi-Institutional Study of Older Hearing Aids Beginners-A Prospective Single-Arm Observation on Executive Function and Social Interaction.

Objectives: To obtain new insights into research questions on how executive function and social interaction would be observed to change after the introduction of hearing aids (HAs) in older people with hearing impairment.

Design: Multi-institutional prospective single-arm observational study.

Setting And Participants: Outpatients with complaints of hearing difficulty who visited HA clinics between October 18, 2017, and June 30, 2019, in 7 different university hospitals in Japan.

Acute myocardial infarction in a patient with uncorrected tetralogy of Fallot accompanied by coronary artery ectasia: A case report.

A 63-year-old male with a medical history of uncorrected tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) presented to our hospital due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Emergency coronary angiography (CAG) was performed and it showed a severe thrombotic stenosis in the middle right coronary artery (RCA) and total thrombotic occlusion of the posterior descending branch of the RCA. Subsequently, percutaneous coronary artery intervention (PCI) under the guidance of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was performed.

Efficacy and Safety of Early Initiation of Eplerenone Treatment in Patients with Acute Heart Failure (EARLIER trial): a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Aims: A mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) is effective in patients with chronic heart failure; however, the effects of the early initiation of an MRA in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) have not been elucidated.

Methods And Results: In this multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study, we focused on the safety and effectiveness of the treatment with eplerenone, a selective MRA in 300 patients with AHF, that is, 149 in the eplerenone group and 151 in the placebo group in 27 Japanese institutions. The key inclusion criteria were (i) patients aged 20 years or older and (ii) those with left ventricular ejection fraction of ≤40%.

Successful percutaneous removal of dislodged ring-marker of optical coherence tomography catheter using the twisted wire technique with a guide-extension catheter: A case report.

An 81-year-old male with diabetes and hypertension was admitted to our hospital due to chest pain on exertion. Coronary angiography revealed a severe stenosis at the middle of right coronary artery (RCA). We performed percutaneous coronary intervention under the guidance of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to the lesion in the middle RCA.

[Optic Neuropathy Secondary to Compression by the Internal Carotid Artery Concomitant with an Inflammatory Granuloma:A Case Report].

A 77-year-old man presented with a 6-month history of progressive right optic neuropathy secondary to compression by the ipsilateral internal carotid artery(ICA). We performed anterior clinoidectomy and optic canal unroofing. Subsequently, we wrapped the ICA with a polytetrafluoroethylene tape, pulled the vessel laterally, and sutured the tape to the dura mater at the anterior skull base for optimal decompression.

Short- and mid-term influence of drug-coated stent implantation on structural and functional vascular healing response: An optical coherence tomography and acetylcholine testing study.

Objective: This study investigated the effect of a drug-coated stent (DCS) that has a novel microporous abluminal surface without a polymer on 1-month and 1-year functional and morphological healing response as assessed using acetylcholine (Ach) testing and optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Background: DCS is expected to induce favorable morphological and physiological arterial healing after its implantation.

Methods: A total of 11 patients who underwent vascular response examinations 1-month and 1-year after the index PCI with DCS implantation were enrolled.